Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 5.djvu/52

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[12 8. V. FEB., 1919.

" Having regard to the wide geographical distribution of bells marked with the R. B. initials," my friend Mr. W. J. Parkinson Smith remarks that " to have cast bells so far distant, and in so many counties, one naturally conjectures that the foundry of Bond must have been widely known."

In conclusion, no documentary evidence has so far been cited to support the conjecture of family relationship or of business associa- tions existing between R. B. and Anthony Bond, beyond the continuity in dates, the R. B. bells covering the period from 1595 to 1614, and those cast by Anthony Bond from 1615 to 1629.

Respecting the other unidentified bell- founder, "I. H.," whose initials are found on some seventeen bells in Hampshire, the writer of the notes on Hampshire church bells alludes to the bells as inscribed with " the founder's initials I. H.," or " by an uncertain founder I. H., whose bells are common in the district," and " by the unidentified founder I. H. (possibly John Higden)." These bells range over the period 161052. One of the earliest cast by him is the tenor, dated 1610, at Hinton Ampner, Hants ; possibly his latest, of 1652, is located at Bursledon in the same county.

Mr. Walters in his ' Bells of England ' (1912), referring to this unknown founder, conjectures the initials may be those of John Higden, foreman to Joseph Carter, a success- ful bell-founder at Reading (1578-1606). In his will, bearing date 1609, Carter refers to John Higden as " his servant," leaving him a small legacy.

It is probable that Higden set up a foundry in Hants, possibly at Winchester or South ampton. By some means or other he obtained possession (or at least had the use of many ancient letters and stamps used bj Carter. His inscriptions are generally in black-letter, but other lettering is used. A Martyr Worthy the second bell, of date 1632 has the legend " In God is my hope " in small black letters, while the tenor bell, o 1631, has the same epigraph in Gothi capitals. Higden was fond of reproducing mediaeval stamps such as the Wokingham " R. L." shield, as, for instance, on the fiftl bell at Owslebury, of date 1622. Thirteen of Higden' s bells bear the epigraph " In Go( is my hope " ; on two " God be our guyd ' is inscribed ; while two of 1615 and 165 have merely the initials and date of casting

JOHN L. WHITEHEAD.

Ventnor.

CHRISTMAS VERSES AT SHEFFIELD*. (12 S. iv. 324.)

IY note in * N. & Q.' for December last has >rought me two interesting letters from ustoms goes back much further than mine. Mr. George Denton, of 6 Riverdale Road,, Sheffield, writes :
 * entlemen whose acquaintance with Sheffield

" The lines you quote are, I think, a mixture f two old songs one a Christmas song, the other, New Year or Wassail song. As I remember hem when I was a boy, they were quite distinct, t of the lines you quote are quite familiar to me, though some are not. I do not think that

Plenty of money and nothing to fear and

Ladies and gentlemen who sit at your ease >elong to the version I remember.

" Of the Christmas song, I only recall the first erse : ! wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New

Year,

A pocket full of money and a cellar full of beer. An apple, a pear, a plum, and a cherry, And a sup of good ale to make a man merry. 1 The New Year song I remember better :

1. We've been a while a-wandering

Among the fields so green, And now we've come a-wassailing

As plainly to be seen. Our jolly wassail, our jolly wassail ! Love and joy come to you, and to our wassail too- far " boo "=bough),

And God bless you and send you a happy New Year.

A New Year I a New Year 1 God bless you and send you a happy New Year I Pray God send you (repeated three tones) A happy New Year !

2.

We're not the daily beggars

That beg from door to door ;

We are your neighbours' children

Whom you have seen before.

(Chorus) Our jolly wassail, &c.

3. We've got a little purse

All made of rabbit skin, And we want a little sixpence To line it well within. (Chorus.)

4. Bring us out the table,

Bring us out the cloth, Bring us out the bread and cheese For our Christmas box ! (Chorus.)

5. God bless the master of this house,

And bless the mistress too ! God bless the little children

That round the table go 1 ?

(Chorus.)